Scheduled Caste status limited to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists: Supreme Court

Context: Scheduled Caste status

Supreme Court said Scheduled Caste status is available only to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists; if a person converts to any other religion, Scheduled Caste status ends from that point.

Key points

  1. The judgment relies on Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
  2. This clause originally covered only Hindus.
  3. Sikhs were included in 1956.
  4. Buddhists were included in 1990.
  5. So, at present, Scheduled Caste status is legally limited to Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
  6. The Court called this bar absolute, meaning conversion to Christianity or Islam leads to loss of Scheduled Caste status.

From where does this power come?

• The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 is issued under Article 341 of the Constitution.
• Article 341(1): President specifies which castes are Scheduled Castes.
• Article 341(2): Parliament can later include or exclude groups from that list.

Scheduled Caste status
Scheduled Caste status
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